It is a large project for a city to alter its entire demeanor, and as I sat reading this article about the undertaking of Istanbul, Berlin is working on the exact project. I loved the author's remarks about globalization and what problems it presents and found it interesting that what changes may come are the effects of social and cultural globalization itself. "Culture is implicated in everything now. Companies use culture for its image-building capacity." How true is that? And it's not only applicable to Istanbul but applies to Germany, America, and many other countries which are money, glitz, or facade-driven. The New Politics of Openness section discusses an interesting complex. I feel that class differences, belief separations, lifestyle barriers, etc. will always, always resonate and to try and mix them is to try to change what culture there is. The author, with his (her?) disagreement with globalization absolutely agrees with me in that the blending of differences of people for the sake of peace is evidently the taking away of a culture's essential richness. The last paragraph sums it up perfectly:
"We have to hope that all these moments of worldliness in Istanbul might turn into flagship experiences in maintaining a democratic basis of social solidarity where different identities coexist productively and creatively. Above all, we have to hope for a new politics of openness."
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As I prepare to be not just a tourist but rather a traveler, I am also concerned with the relationship of culture and commercialism and consumption. I think culture and consumption are moving way to quickly and if they don't take things slower, one of them is going to get hurt. And I think we all know which one.
ReplyDeleteWhat's this you're saying about Berlin also going through massive changes? Enlighten me, please!